There is more to April than Showers! It’s field lacrosse season

That’s right, the hockey sticks are being put away and the field lacrosse sticks are being dusted off; less equipment, but just as much body checking and fast paced action. For parents of lacrosse players, it is time to store away those arena seat cushions and get out the rain suits, umbrellas and lawn chairs. The season may be shorter, but it doesn’t always feel that way when the weather is often volatile. Field lacrosse games are very rarely cancelled due to weather; the players love it, the parents, not so much.

Field lacrosse is played with 10 players on the field – 1 goalie, 3 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 3 attackers. The attackers must always stay on the offensive side of centre, and the defenders must always stay on the defensive side of centre. The midfielders can go all over the field. If a team has less than 3 players in the attacking zone, or less than 4 in the defensive zone (3 defenders plus a goalie) the team is off-side and possession will be awarded to the other team. Sound complicated – not really, but this game is highly strategic.

Are Canadians making an impact in the Men’s American Field Lacrosse world? According to a recent Lacrosse Magazine article there were only 18 Canadian men in NCAA Division I teams in 2000. That number has increased steadily and in 2009 there were 74 Canadians including 10 alone on the roster at Bellarmine, in Louisville, Ky.

And what about on the international scene? Team Canada will be defending their world title – which was won on home turf in 2006 against the U.S. – in Manchester England this coming July.

The Canadian Women have also been making strides capturing bronze at the World Championships in Prague last summer.

We’re mighty! We’re crazy! We’re never, ever lazy!

We’ll beat you! Defeat you! We’ll even try to eat you!

We’ll cover you in hot sauce, cuz we’re the best at lacrosse.

Gooooo Team Canada
(Girl’s Lacrosse Cheer Courtesy of Prettytough.com)

For more information on the world of Canadian Field Lacrosse go to http://www.lacrosse.ca/.

Krome, Paul. Quality Control: behind LM’s research into high school alumni on Division I rosters. Lacrosse Magazine, April 2009, 33 (4), p.15.

Other field lacrosse references from Sport Discus:

• From Frances Jane Dove to Rosabelle Sinclair and beyond: the introduction of women's field lacrosse to North America. Forbes, S.L.; Livingston, L.A., Unpublished Paper Presented at the 10th Commonwealth & Scientific Congress, University of Victoria, BC Aug 1994: p. 1-4
• Physical and Mechanical Properties of Various Field Lacrosse Balls. Crisco, Joseph J.; Drewniak, Elizabeth I.; Alvarez, Martin P.; Spenciner, David B., Journal of Applied Biomechanics Nov2005, Vol. 21 Issue 4, p383
• ZAP THE ZONE With a Simple Sideaway 3-3. Kenney, John M., Coach & Athletic Director Apr2002, Vol. 71 Issue 9, p16
• Painting women's lacrosse fields quickly and accurately. Marcotte, Bob, SportsTurf Jun2009, Vol. 25 Issue 6, p18
• Lacrosse - the warrior's field sport. Bell, N., Golf & Sports Turf Australia Aug/Sept 2002: Vol. 10 Issue 4. p. 6-7;9-12